Adjustable anchoring fitting for thermometer bulbs



Get. 2%, 1931. c. w. BRISTOL 1,828,170

ADJUSTABLE ANCHORING FITTING FOR THERMOMETER BULBS Filed April 8. 1930INVENTOR tar/f0 h. Br/s/o/ ATTOR N EY Patented @ct. 250, 19 31 v STATESATE T I j;

CARLTON W. BRISTOL, OF NAUGATUCK, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRISTOLCOM- PANY, OF WATERB'URY, CONNECTICUT, A. CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUTADJUSTABLE ANCHORING -FITTING FOR THERMOMETER BULBS Application filedApril 8,

The invention relates to a fitting for use with measuring apparatus,more particularly with the bulb or encased temperature responsive unitof a thermometric device which 5 is adapted for insertion in a fluid.

Thermometer bulbs of this nature are used to a large extent incontrolling the temperatures of various baths or liquids, for example inthe pasteurization of milk wherein 1t s especially necessary thatsanitary precau-.

tions be observed in the use of such thermometer. i

It is the object of the invention to'afi'ord a fitting whereby the bulbportion may be adjusted to the desired length with respect to itsstationary support; and to provide for this purpose, also, a fitting'ofsanitary construction and which may readily be cleaned and avoidsformation of crevices into which foreign matter might tend toaccumulate.

In carrying out the invention, there is arranged to fit slidably overthe usual casing or bulb of a thermometenvfor' example, of'

the expansible gas, vapor or liquid type, a fitting which is soconstructed that by taking up on a jam nut, forming a part thereof,

the fitting as a whole may be tightened to the bulb at any desiredposition along its length.

The aforesaid locking means, furthermore, is arranged for threadedengagement with a finishing sleeve also slidable over the bulb; and thefitting as a whole is then to be secured by a suitable sanitary ferruleand cap to the desired support, whereby the distance the bulb projectsinto a container or the like is determined.

The nature of the invention, however, will best be understood whendescribed in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section showing the novel fitting located in a T. a

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating the manner ofsecuring the novel fitting to a wall, such as of a tank or vat.

. Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the anchoring elementand associated finishin sleeve.

Re erring to the drawings, 10 designates so the bulb or casing of athermometric device 1930. Serial No. 442,703.

such as they usual and well-known type of gas, vapor orliquid-thermometer; and, as indicated in Fig.1, the same is designed tobe fitted, for example, into a T'11,the bulb having an extension as thearmored tubing or the like 12 at its outer end whereby an iiidication ofthe temperatureprevailing in the medium passing through the T may be hadat some point remote therefrom, as is well understood.

As it is desirable, well as necessary 'in many instances, that'this bulb10 be capable of projecting at difi'erent distances into a tankorfitting (as indicated by the dotted line position, Fig. 2) or isrequired-to be adaptable to fittings of difierent diameters and tanks ofdifferent sizes, said bul'b 10 should be adjustable relatively to themeans for securing the same rigidly to such fitting 3 or tank.

In accordance with the present invention, this-is accomplished by meansof atubular anchoring element 15 having a sliding fit over the bulb 10,said element being tapered and reduced in' 'thickness at its outer-endto" an extent to afford ayieldable edge 16. Said anchoring element,furthermore, is threaded between its ends-and at its innermost end isadapted to receive a holding wrench, for example, in theprovision of thediametrically disposed slots 17.

A jam nut- 18, moreover, is adapted for threaded engagement with theintermediate portion of the anchoring element 15, fitting over its outerend; and the inside surface of 55 said outer end of the jam nut iscorrespondingly tapered as at 19 to fit substantially the taper of saidanchoring element. Thereby, as the jam nut is taken up by rotating it ina clockwise direction on the anchoring element and contact had betweenthe two tapered portions 16 and, 19, the yieldable edge ofthe anchoringelement will be pressed firmly against the bulb to hold the saidanchoring element thereto. To enable a sufficientforce to be ap 5 plied,jam nut 18 is, furthermore, provided with the diametrically oppositeflats or grooves 20 for obtaining a wrench hold there on; and the sameare of such a nature as to be readily cleaned.

matter cancollect. In this connection, also,

I it is desirable to havethe edge 16 of the anchoring element projectslightly beyond its surrounding 3' am nut portion 19 so that no I'ecessor crevice ma be formed thereat; and the jam nut is bevele downsubstantially to said edge to afforda finished and readily clean- 1choring unit embodying the anchorin ament, jamnut and finishing sleeveis'tted within a cylindrical, smooth-surfaced ferrule when the nut isdrawn up. I

' andis'adapted to support thereby the outer able surface.

. In order, however, to securethe bulb 1n position', for example in theT 11, the entire anelewhich is tapered internally at its outer end endof the unit, said ferrule being further provided with a shoulder 26.over whichfits a holding nut '27 in threaded engagement with the outerend of the inlet 28 to T 11.

winged follower .cap 29 which is designed to "contact with thecorresponding end of the finishing sleeve 21 to force thesame tightlyagainst the seat 30 of the ferrule.

' It has been founddesirable, also, in order to prevent any possibleleakage of liquid into the holding unit to provide at its follower endabout said bulbra suitable washer member 31 which may be of a softmetal, as lead. This washer is designed to fit a tapered seat '32 of thesleeve so that as pressure is exerted by the follower cap on saidsleeve, end andwasher, the latter will tend to grip the surface of thebulb.

In Fig. 2 a slightly different manner of se- [curing the anchoring unitis indicated, the

same being shown. more particularly for use in connection with a wall35, as of a tank or like container. In this particular embodiment, theferrule 36 is provided with a flange 37 at its outermost end and-havingthe seat 38 for engagement with the tank end of the anchoring unit. Inaddition to being internally threaded at its follower end foraccommodating a follower member 39, as in the previously describedembodiment, it is externally threaded .as at 40 and over which is fitteda nut 41 with intermediate washer 42 tosecure the said ferrule tightlyto the said vall, as by drawing up on said nut. I claim: 1. A. fittingfor a thermometer bulb ofthe nature set forth, slidable longitudinallyover said bulb and adapted to be anchored at any desired position alongthe length of the bulb, said fitting comprising a sleeve adapted to havea sliding fit over the bulb and being reduced and tapered at its outerend to an extent to afford a yieldable edge, said sleeve aisd.being'threaded betwe'enits ends, and a jam nut'fittlng over the,outer'end ofsaid sleeve duced and tapered at its outer end to an extentto afford a yieldable edge, said sleeve also being threaded between itsends and. adapted at the inner end to receive a holding wrench, and ajam nut fitting over the outer end of said sleeve and engaging thethreads thereof to press the yieldable edge against the bulb 3. Afitting for a thermometer bulb of the nature set forth, slidablelongitudinally over said bulb and adapted to be anchored at any desiredposition alongthe length of the bulb,

said fitting comprising asleeve adapted to have a sliding fit over thebulb and being resaid fitting comprising a sleeve adapted to have asliding fit over the bulb and being re- I I duced and tapered at itsouter end-to anextent to afford a 'yieldable edge, said sleeve alsobeingthreaded between its ends, a jam nut fitting over the outer endofsaid sleeve and enga mg the threads thereof to press the yielda leedgeagainst the bulb when the "nut is drawn up, said nut having acircumferential shoulder and being provided with external threads beyondsaid shoulder, and a finishing sleeve through which the bulb is adaptedto pass and in threaded engagement with the said external threads of thejam nut and its inner edge adapted to abut the said shoulder thereof. a

A 4. A fitting nature set forth, slidable longitudinally over said bulband adapted to be anchored'at any desired position along the length ofthe bulb, said fitting comprising a sleeve adapted to have a sliding fitover the bulb and being reduced and tapered at its outer end to anextent to afford a yieldable edge, said sleeve also being threadedbetween its ends, a jam nut fitting over the outer end of said sleeveand engaging the threads thereof to press the inner edge adapted toabut. the said shoulder thereof, a mounting ferrule adapted to supportrigidly the anchoring means and bulb and having a head for engagementwith the outer surface of the jam nut, and means adapted to secure thehead to a support into which the ferrule is adapted to be passed.

for a thermometer'bulb of the r n me 5. A fitting for a thermometer bulbof the nature set forth, slidable longitudinally over said bulb andadapted to be anchored at any desired position along the length of thebulb, said fittlng comprising a sleeve adapted to have a sliding fitover the bulb and being reduced and tapered at its outer end to anextent to afi'ord a yieldable edge, said sleeve also being threadedbetween its ends, a jam nut fitting over the outer end of said sleeveand engaging the threads thereof to press the yieldable edge against thebulb when the nut is drawn up, said 'nut having a circumferentialshoulder and being provided with external threads beyond said shoulder,a finishmg sleeve through whichthe bulb is adapted to pass and inthreaded engagement with the said external threads of the jam nut andits inner edge adapted to abut the said shoulder thereof, a mountingferrule adapted to support rigidly the anchoring means and bulb andhaving a head for engagement with the outer surface of the jam nut,means adapted to secure the head to a support into which the ferrule isadapted to be passed and a follower cap for sealing the inner end of thefinishing sleeve and adapted for threaded engagement with the ferrule tojam said sleeve therein.

6. A fitting for a thermometer bulb of the nature set forth, slidablelongitudinally over said bulb and adapted. to be anchoredat any desiredposition along the length of the bulb, said fittlng comprising a sleeveadapted to have a sliding fit over the'bulb and being reduced andtapered at its outer end to an extent to afford a yieldable edge, saidsleeve also being threadedbetween its ends, a jam nut fitting over theouter end of said sleeve and engaging the threads thereof to press theyieldable edge against the bulb when the nut is drawn up, said nuthaving a circumferential shoulder and being provided with externalthreads beyond said shoulder, a finishing sleeve through which the bulbis adapted to pass and in threaded engagement with the said externalthreads of the jam nut and its inner edge adapted to abut the saidshoulder thereof, a mounting ferrule adapted to support rigidly theanchoring means and bulb and having a head for engagement with the outersurface of the jam nut, means adapted to secure the head to a supportinto which the ferrule is adapted to be passed, a follower cap forsealing the inner. end of the finishing sleeve and adapted for threadedengagement with the ferrule to jam said sleeve therein, and an insertwasher of relatively soft metal in the top of the finishing sleeveadapted to sphead under the pressure of the follower cap for peripheraland sealing engagement with the bulb.

In testimony whereof I afiix my si ature.

' CARLTON W. BRI TOL.

